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ikramxlek's review
1.0
DNF @ 55%
This was supposed to be my reconciliation with young adult contemporary but I guess it's unfair to expect it from a book I picked up randomly. I really wanted to get out of my comfort zone with this one and I also wanted to prioritize a new release. I did have low expectations for it though. The beginning of the book, like the first hundred pages, was very solid, I was genuinely enjoying it and I flew through those pages. I was so excited I thought this would be one of the rare times I enjoy this genre. The flaws were apparent from the beginning but, at some point during the story, the bad truly started to outweigh the good for me, to the point where it was unbearable and also a waste of time to try and continue.
I'll start with the good. So, at first, I was totally conquered by Isaac as a main character. I thought he was interesting and somewhat realistic for a teenager and I just wanted to know more about him. I really cared about his relationship with Diego, as best friends and more. They had so many cute scenes together that really warmed my heart. I also really loved the diverse group of characters the book offered, in race, gender and sexuality.
Now, onto the bad. I didn't care for a single character in here. Even the ones I liked at the beginning. They just started getting boring. They either had one personality trait or none at all. The love triangle was very dumb and I did not care for the third party. There was no plot development and no substance to the story. It just felt like we got from one place to another, from one conversation to the next. It was the same conflicts redone and rehashed for several chapters. But most importantly. The dialogue was so fucking cringe. It was trying soooooo hard, like soooooo hard. To be young and cool and unproblematic. It was devoid of soul. The characters were talking like they were on Twitter. Except when people do it on Twitter it's funny. Then there was also the comics nerd aspect of the main character. The nerd trope is a very overdone one. This is not the first book to fail at it. What I mean by nerd trope is when a character's only personality trait is a single hobby they have. And that's it. That's all they talk about. And that was veryyyyyy much the case here. There wasn't a single paragraph, a single line, where you didn't get reminded of how much Isaac likes this one comics series. It was exhausting. Again, all these flaws are linked to the same problem. The book was trying very hard to be relatable to the point where it was cringe. It wasn't even unrealistic. I just don't think it can work in a book without coming off weird.
And what was so sad about this. Is that it didn't need to do all this to be relatable. There were some actual good lines in here. That were very pertinent to the experience of a teenager. There were also some great conversations about queer baiting in media and the capitalization of queer culture during pride month. Like, there was potential. But it fell flat for me because of very stupid dialogue and a lack of plot structure. I also think there are loads of books out there that discuss these exact same themes. But better. And that's why I decided there was no point in continuing.
I'll still write down some of my favorite quotes because, as I said, there was some solid writing in here :
I’m awkward with new people. Most times it’s hard for me to relate or open up to them. There’s no natural flow to our conversations. No easy silence like you can have with a person you’ve known for more than a year. I can’t remember when it started, but the moment I’m introduced to someone, a barrier appears. It prevents them from getting too close. They can’t hurt me, and I’ll never disappoint them.
The thing about coming out is you’re so focused on making sure who you are doesn’t hurt or change your relationship with your loved ones that you never really think about yourself. About your moment. About how wonderful it is to just . . . be.
Some tears aren’t for wounds. Some are for healing.
Something is slowly ending but also beginning.
Sunsets are this well-known secret: soon, everything resets.
Am I the thing holding her back?
You’re not supposed to think that about your parents, right? Like you’re the wall keeping them from their future.
The thing about summers is they start slow and glorious. Everything’s gold and blue in the day, heady and warm at night. The days stretch for what seems like weeks. You can’t walk five feet without smelling the chlorine from a community pool or something cooking on a grill or freshly cut grass. There’s an unnamable magic everywhere.
By mid-July, though, it feels like a fireball racing downhill. All the magic is replaced by a constant countdown: “what was” rather than “what could be.”
August is just a graveyard of the hope early summer gave.
I can’t remember why Diego and I stopped coming to this park. Did we outgrow the swing sets where we met and the looping slide and lying in the grass while the sun washed over us? Did we find new ways to escape the secrets we kept from the rest of the world but not from each other? Or was it just high school and the constant pressure to perform? Continuously having to “act mature” when, really, you’ve barely stepped into this new transition without falling on your face.
No one ever tells you that the what-ifs never go away. They change shape, go from loud to quiet. But they never truly disappear.
This was supposed to be my reconciliation with young adult contemporary but I guess it's unfair to expect it from a book I picked up randomly. I really wanted to get out of my comfort zone with this one and I also wanted to prioritize a new release. I did have low expectations for it though. The beginning of the book, like the first hundred pages, was very solid, I was genuinely enjoying it and I flew through those pages. I was so excited I thought this would be one of the rare times I enjoy this genre. The flaws were apparent from the beginning but, at some point during the story, the bad truly started to outweigh the good for me, to the point where it was unbearable and also a waste of time to try and continue.
I'll start with the good. So, at first, I was totally conquered by Isaac as a main character. I thought he was interesting and somewhat realistic for a teenager and I just wanted to know more about him. I really cared about his relationship with Diego, as best friends and more. They had so many cute scenes together that really warmed my heart. I also really loved the diverse group of characters the book offered, in race, gender and sexuality.
Now, onto the bad. I didn't care for a single character in here. Even the ones I liked at the beginning. They just started getting boring. They either had one personality trait or none at all. The love triangle was very dumb and I did not care for the third party. There was no plot development and no substance to the story. It just felt like we got from one place to another, from one conversation to the next. It was the same conflicts redone and rehashed for several chapters. But most importantly. The dialogue was so fucking cringe. It was trying soooooo hard, like soooooo hard. To be young and cool and unproblematic. It was devoid of soul. The characters were talking like they were on Twitter. Except when people do it on Twitter it's funny. Then there was also the comics nerd aspect of the main character. The nerd trope is a very overdone one. This is not the first book to fail at it. What I mean by nerd trope is when a character's only personality trait is a single hobby they have. And that's it. That's all they talk about. And that was veryyyyyy much the case here. There wasn't a single paragraph, a single line, where you didn't get reminded of how much Isaac likes this one comics series. It was exhausting. Again, all these flaws are linked to the same problem. The book was trying very hard to be relatable to the point where it was cringe. It wasn't even unrealistic. I just don't think it can work in a book without coming off weird.
And what was so sad about this. Is that it didn't need to do all this to be relatable. There were some actual good lines in here. That were very pertinent to the experience of a teenager. There were also some great conversations about queer baiting in media and the capitalization of queer culture during pride month. Like, there was potential. But it fell flat for me because of very stupid dialogue and a lack of plot structure. I also think there are loads of books out there that discuss these exact same themes. But better. And that's why I decided there was no point in continuing.
I'll still write down some of my favorite quotes because, as I said, there was some solid writing in here :
I’m awkward with new people. Most times it’s hard for me to relate or open up to them. There’s no natural flow to our conversations. No easy silence like you can have with a person you’ve known for more than a year. I can’t remember when it started, but the moment I’m introduced to someone, a barrier appears. It prevents them from getting too close. They can’t hurt me, and I’ll never disappoint them.
The thing about coming out is you’re so focused on making sure who you are doesn’t hurt or change your relationship with your loved ones that you never really think about yourself. About your moment. About how wonderful it is to just . . . be.
Some tears aren’t for wounds. Some are for healing.
Something is slowly ending but also beginning.
Sunsets are this well-known secret: soon, everything resets.
Am I the thing holding her back?
You’re not supposed to think that about your parents, right? Like you’re the wall keeping them from their future.
The thing about summers is they start slow and glorious. Everything’s gold and blue in the day, heady and warm at night. The days stretch for what seems like weeks. You can’t walk five feet without smelling the chlorine from a community pool or something cooking on a grill or freshly cut grass. There’s an unnamable magic everywhere.
By mid-July, though, it feels like a fireball racing downhill. All the magic is replaced by a constant countdown: “what was” rather than “what could be.”
August is just a graveyard of the hope early summer gave.
I can’t remember why Diego and I stopped coming to this park. Did we outgrow the swing sets where we met and the looping slide and lying in the grass while the sun washed over us? Did we find new ways to escape the secrets we kept from the rest of the world but not from each other? Or was it just high school and the constant pressure to perform? Continuously having to “act mature” when, really, you’ve barely stepped into this new transition without falling on your face.
No one ever tells you that the what-ifs never go away. They change shape, go from loud to quiet. But they never truly disappear.
rainbowbookworm's review
4.0
This one was wholesome and cute. I only had one issue with it and it was addressed in the book itself.
marieintheraw's review
3.0
I was not excepting the fandom elements going in, but with coming of age storyline combined with that friends-t0-lovers woven in, I was able to enjoy it.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.
drakoulis's review
3.0
Given that this is my second book from this author that I give 3-stars, I'm starting to think that maybe the author's writing style isn't for me.
However, the issues I had with Right Where I Left You weren't the same ones with The Summer of Everything . The Summer of Everything suffered from a terrible ending, a pessimistic, gloomy and relatively sad finale.
This book's ending is great. I enjoyed it, I was happy to read it. The problem is everything else.
This book follows comic fan Issac in the last summer before he goes to college. His only friend is Diego, with who he spends almost all of his free time together. Diego is an avid gamer who decided to take a gap year to puruse his game designer dream career. We're introduced to Diego's gamer friends and Isaac's comic book acquaintances, as well the two boys families. And here start the problems:
- The characters aren't really relatable and I didn't feel for them. Issac is whiny and socially awkward and not in a cute way. His parents divorce is supposedly to blame for his trust issues (quite a stretch), him being for some reason (never fully explained) unable to socialize with people, and miscomuunicating even with his best friend.
- Diego is an overall nice person, caring, nerdy, dealing with his mother's pressure to go to college in quite a mature way, but suddenly, when Isaac tries to date Davi, he turns into an absolute jerk. Yeah, jealousy old trope, but the writing of the book made it look as if Isaac was at fault for not...guessing that Diego liked him despite Diego never saying anything? I'm serious, even when they got together, it was Isaac who did the talking and the move in the end.
- Davi appeared nice and very flirty, and the writing was definitely implying he wanted to date Isaac, until suddenly we get told that he only wanted to be friends. Not sold.
- "Practice kiss" is the most ridiculous trope I've ever seen. Sorry.
- Most of the banter and the pop culture references would appeal only to 15-years-olds. I found it borderlie cringe.
Overall, it's a book that has solid premises, but the path it takes relies heavily on miscommunication, jealousy, characters who act in a weird way with no reason, past family trauma (it appears to be a thing with Julian Winters books) affecting the present and of course the comic nerds world (no objections here).
I was expecting something better to be honest, so it gets the rating I give to books I didn't dislike, but didn't exactly captivate me either.
However, the issues I had with Right Where I Left You weren't the same ones with The Summer of Everything . The Summer of Everything suffered from a terrible ending, a pessimistic, gloomy and relatively sad finale.
This book's ending is great. I enjoyed it, I was happy to read it. The problem is everything else.
This book follows comic fan Issac in the last summer before he goes to college. His only friend is Diego, with who he spends almost all of his free time together. Diego is an avid gamer who decided to take a gap year to puruse his game designer dream career. We're introduced to Diego's gamer friends and Isaac's comic book acquaintances, as well the two boys families. And here start the problems:
- The characters aren't really relatable and I didn't feel for them. Issac is whiny and socially awkward and not in a cute way. His parents divorce is supposedly to blame for his trust issues (quite a stretch), him being for some reason (never fully explained) unable to socialize with people, and miscomuunicating even with his best friend.
- Diego is an overall nice person, caring, nerdy, dealing with his mother's pressure to go to college in quite a mature way, but suddenly, when Isaac tries to date Davi, he turns into an absolute jerk. Yeah, jealousy old trope, but the writing of the book made it look as if Isaac was at fault for not...guessing that Diego liked him despite Diego never saying anything? I'm serious, even when they got together, it was Isaac who did the talking and the move in the end.
- Davi appeared nice and very flirty, and the writing was definitely implying he wanted to date Isaac, until suddenly we get told that he only wanted to be friends. Not sold.
- "Practice kiss" is the most ridiculous trope I've ever seen. Sorry.
- Most of the banter and the pop culture references would appeal only to 15-years-olds. I found it borderlie cringe.
Overall, it's a book that has solid premises, but the path it takes relies heavily on miscommunication, jealousy, characters who act in a weird way with no reason, past family trauma (it appears to be a thing with Julian Winters books) affecting the present and of course the comic nerds world (no objections here).
I was expecting something better to be honest, so it gets the rating I give to books I didn't dislike, but didn't exactly captivate me either.
bethany6788's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Another Julian Winters book that was so GD cute my cheeks hurt from smiling.
Things I loved about this book:
WHY WAS ISAAC SO CUTE!? I loved him so much. That sweet little oblivious chicken nugget. I KNEW IT about Diego from the get and the kissing for practice!!! Sir!!! 😅🥹😍 I love him, your honor. Gah he was so wonderful and flawed and messy just give me more characters like this!!
Diego!!! You adorably jealous darling boy. Kissing for practice!!! You sly thing!! The tension was off the charts with these two. I loved Diego’s love of family, how close he was to his parents and brother, and how he was a big friendship catalyst. Such a great character!
The six. I am obsessed with them and want them as my friend group, please!
Davi. I liked how he owned up hurting Isaac and apologized. He was just learning about himself which I get, but that kiss was mixed signals! lol
Bella!
Isaac’s mom!
Iggy being there when everything got messed up for Isaac. Brb, crying.
The apology.
The make up!
The nephew being born and family reuniting.
As you can see I LOVED it. I highlighted so many quotes on my kindle. 🥰🥰🥰
Things I loved about this book:
WHY WAS ISAAC SO CUTE!? I loved him so much. That sweet little oblivious chicken nugget. I KNEW IT about Diego from the get and the kissing for practice!!! Sir!!! 😅🥹😍 I love him, your honor. Gah he was so wonderful and flawed and messy just give me more characters like this!!
Diego!!! You adorably jealous darling boy. Kissing for practice!!! You sly thing!! The tension was off the charts with these two. I loved Diego’s love of family, how close he was to his parents and brother, and how he was a big friendship catalyst. Such a great character!
The six. I am obsessed with them and want them as my friend group, please!
Davi. I liked how he owned up hurting Isaac and apologized. He was just learning about himself which I get, but that kiss was mixed signals! lol
Bella!
Isaac’s mom!
Iggy being there when everything got messed up for Isaac. Brb, crying.
The apology.
The make up!
The nephew being born and family reuniting.
As you can see I LOVED it. I highlighted so many quotes on my kindle. 🥰🥰🥰
chelseabecrazy's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This story was an emotional ride but teenage me was there for it! They writing is phenomenal and the characters were a delight. I think there's something for everyone here but as a nerdy, queer adult it was a wonderful experience 💜
amk13's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
halobear11's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
optimisticbooknerd's review
4.0
4 Stars ⭐
I loved Issac and Diego's dynamic in the story and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold. This is such a good friends to lovers story
I think I will have to check out more from this author in the future, I definitely reccomend this one if you need a good friends to lovers but not too YA
I loved Issac and Diego's dynamic in the story and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold. This is such a good friends to lovers story
I think I will have to check out more from this author in the future, I definitely reccomend this one if you need a good friends to lovers but not too YA